American Military Patches, Other Insignia and Decorations of World War Two by Dr. Howard G. Lanham c. 2002

Navy Specialty Marks

Second World War

These marks appear within the Petty Officer Rating Badges. Ones that were on both winter (white on blue) and summer (blue on white) issue rating badges are shown. For more detail on the background of rating badges see John A. Stacey's U.S. Navy Rating Badges, Specialty Marks and Distinguishing Marks. Many of these designs were also used as distinguishing marks by those with additional qualifications or by non-rated men (seamen).
When used as a distinguishing mark the design is by itself and not within a rating badge.

Aerographer's Mate

Airship Rigger

Aviation Boatswain's Mate

Aviation Carpenter's Mate

Aviation Electrician's Mate

Aviation Machinist's Mate

Aviation Metalsmith

Aviation Ordnanceman

Aviation Pilot (1)

Aviation Radioman

Boatswain's Mate

Bugler

Carpenter's Mate

Commissary Steward

Construction Battalion (2)

Electrician's Mate

Fire Controlman

Gunner's Mate

Machinist's Mate

Mailman

Metal Smith

Mineman

Motor Machinist's Mate

Musician

Photographer

Parachute Rigger

Pharmacist's Mate

Printer

Quartermaster

Radarman

Radio Technician

Radioman

Special Artificer

Ship's Cook

Ship's Serviceman

Shipfitter

Signalman

Sonarman

Storekeeper

Storekeeper V

Torpedoman's Mate

Turret Captain Embroidered

Yeoman

Specialist Letters

Mail Clerk Specialist Mark

A series of letter designations were worn in a lozenge to indicate specialists. In some cases the titles were modified during the war, but to simplify this I am picking a representative one.

A

Athletic Instructor

Q

Communications Specialist

C

Classification Interviewer

R

Recruiter

E

Recreation and Welfare Assistant

S

Shore Patrol

F

Fire Fighter

T

Teacher

G

Gunnery Instructor

U

Utility

I

IBM Operator

W

Welfare

M

Mail Clerk

O

Ordnance Inspector

P

Photographer

X

Specialist (Miscellaneous)

Notes:

On July 12, 1944 an instruction was issued replacing the illustrated gold mark with either blue or white ones similar to other rating badges. The original gold color had been chosen to reflect the gold of a Naval aviator's wing badge and was used on both summer and winter issue rating badges.

The Construcation Battalion (CB) Rating Badge was authorizated on May 2, 1942, but
was revoked in December 1942 in favor of the badges of the appropriate specialties. The letters CB
remained in use as a distinguishing mark, but even that was officially replaced by the
CB shoulder sleeve
insignia in 1944.